Bracelet construction



O. L. GAMMELL ET AL.

BRACELET CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 1929 J2 fet J7 l NVENTOR AHMELL mw1 ATTORNEYS 7 hmnnnmml Sept. 1, 1931.

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OVE L. GAMMELL AND ROLAND W. WOODWARD, OF ATTLEBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

SIGNORS T0 SMITH & CROSBY, 0F ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A COPAIRTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF ALFRED D.`CB.0SBY AND GEORGE H. CROSBY BRACELET coNs'rBoc'rIoN Application lcd April 18,

This invention relates to bracelets but more particularly to the extensible type.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and attractive form of bracelet which may be temporarily enlarged to permit it to be Yeasily slipped over the hand of the wearer and then contracted to fit the arm.

Another object is to provide an eifective means for retaining the bracelet in contracted form.

Another object is to provide a simple and readily operated means for releasing the retaining means to permit the bracelet to be removed` from the arm. Other objects will be` in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts,'all as will be hereinafter illustratively described,l and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown the features of a selected embodiment of this invention Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bracelet in contracted position.

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 except that the parts are in extended position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View, partially in section, the parts being in the position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the portion of the bracelet shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the extensible device as shown in Fig. 2.

1929. Serial N0. 354,790.

sections or links 15, 16 and 17 which are hingedlyconnected as at 18 and 19 and to the section 17 and placing it thereon. This movement causes the section 16 to swing upon its pivots end for vend and upon the completion of this movement the sections of the device are nested as shown in Figs. 4 to 6.

In order to effectively retain the parts of the extensible device in folded or contracted position, a latch mechanism has been provided which is automatically engaged when the parts are brought to this position and relnains in such engagement until manually disengaged inthe manner which will be presently described. i

This latch mechanism comprises a spring member 30 which is U shaped and adjacent the free endsthereof and connected thereto are a pair of latch members 31 and 32 in the form, of depending lugs bent outwardly at their lower ends as 33 and 34 to engage and interlock with correspondin shoulders 35 and 36 formed on the section 17. These shoulders are preferably abrupt to provide a positive lock when the parts are engaged and thus prevent accidental disengagement of the parts and extension of the bracelet. The member 30 is retained within the housing sec` tion by means of bent over ilanges 37 and 38 i which provide the necessary support without interfering with the action of the member.

In order to be ablejto manually release the latching mechanism and permit the device 12 to be extended, there are formed laterally projecting arms or lugs 42 and 43 on the corresponding free ends of the member 30. These extend in opposite directions and project through correspondin perforations 44 and 45 in the side walls o the housing section 15. These arms or lugs 42 and 43 must be pressed inwardly or toward each other simultaneously so that both latches are at the same time disen aged or the sections cannot be extended. his is advantageous as it liti precludes-accidental release by pressure exerted on one or the other of the lugs either bythe bracelet coming in contact with some 0 l ect or by movement of the hand or arm on which the bracelet is Worn. 1

The latch mechanism is extremely easy to release when such is desired. The usual method is to place the thumb on the end of one lug and the first finger on the corresponding portion of the other and press these inwardly simultaneously, then While the latches are thus held released, raise the section 15 and move it endwise away from the section 17. The link 16 during this movement swings end for end about its pivots. As soon as the pressure on the lugs is released the resiliency of the member 30 causes the latches to return to their outer or engaging position in readiness to again engage t e shoulders 35 and 36 on the section 17 when the sections are folded. Notches as 46 and 47 may be provided in the ends of the lugs 42 and 43 respectively to facilitate the manual operation.

In the resent embodiment the pivot at 19 extends tlirough the side Walls of the member 15 and also the bent over flanges 48 and 49, similar in character to the flanges 37 and 38. These flanges 48 and 49 serve to reinforce the corresponding side walls. The pivots at 18,20 and 21 operate in bearings ormed by flanges struck from the metal of the sections of the extensible device.

The latch mechanism as shown acts to positively hold the sections in folded position and accidental release such as frequently occurs with mere frictional holds is rendered Well nigh impossible. This mechanism is quickly and easily released by manual pressure and the releasing means cannot be accidentally operated as both latches must be disengaged simultaneously, or in other words, both releasing lugs must be held in their inward position to enable the device to extend or be extended.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a construction of an essentially practical nature in which the several objects of this invention are attained.

As many other embodiments may be made of the featuresof the above invention Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein 'set forth or shown inl the accompanyng drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a flexible bracelet, in combination, an extensible device including a plurality of connected sections adapted to fold one upon the other and adapted to move into an unfolded position, spaced latching devices on one section adapted to cooperate With catch devices on another section for retaining said sections in folded position, and means for vices.

2. In a bracelet construction, in'combina- I tion, an extensible device including a housing and a plurality of sections foldably connected thereto adapted to fold one upon .the other within said housing to permit the bracelet to be shortened and adapted to unfold to permit the bracelet to be expanded, spaced latch members on said housing and catch members on one of said sections adapted to interlock to retain said sections in their folded position, and means for simultaneously actuating said latches.

3. In a bracelet construction, in combination, an extensible device including a plurality of connected sections adapted to fold one upon the other to permit the bracelet to be shortened and adapted to unfold to permit the bracelet to be expanded, spaced latch members and catch members on said sections adapted to interlock to retain said sections in their folded position, and spaced members operatively related to said latch members extending from different portions of one section for simultaneously-actuating said latches to release said sectionsfrom their folded position.

4. In a bracelet construction, in combination, extensible means including a plurality of connected sections foldable one upon the other, a plurality of spaced latch members upon one of said sections adapted to cooperate with a plurality of catches on another of said sections to hold said sections in their folded position, and means for simultaneously releasing said latches from said catches to Apermit said sections to be unfolded.

5. In a bracelet construction, in combina'- tion, a housing link, a plurality of sections hingedly connected thereto and adapted to fold into position upon said housing link, a spring in said housing carrying latches thereon, said latches adapted to catch on one of said sections to hold said sections in their folded position, and means for simultaneously releasing said latches from said sections.

6. An extensible device for a bracelet comprising a plurality of sections connected substantially end to end and adapted to be folded one on the other, one of said sections forming a housing for the other sections When the de'vice is in folded position, and latch mechanism for temporarily retaining the device in said position including a substantially flat spring member Within said housing section having lugs thereon interlocking with corresponding shoulders on another of the sections.

7. An extensible device for a bracelet comprising a plurality of sections hingedly connected to be folded one upon the other with one of said sections forming a housing for the other sections, means for temporarily retaining the device in folded position including latch members mounted on the housing section and engaging corresponding shoulders on one of the other sections, and means for manually moving said latch members to disengage said shoulders and release said sections.

8. An extensible device for a bracelet comrising a plurality of connected nesting memliers one of which forms a housing for the other members when said members are in nested position, means for retaining the members in said position including a Vpair of spring pressed latch members mounted Within said housing member and engaging corresponding shoulders on one of the other members, and means projecting from said housing and connected to said latch members to enable said latch members to be manually disengaged.

9. An extensible device for a bracelet comprising a plurality of connected nesting members one of which forms a housing for the other members when said members are in nested position, means for retaining the memlvcrs in said position including a pair of spring pressed latch members mounted Within said housing member and engaging corresponding shoulders on one of the other members, and arms projecting from said latch members through said housing to enable the latch members to be manually disengaged.

10. An extensible device for a bracelet comprising a plurality of connected nesting members one of which forms a housing for the other members when said members are in nested position, means for retaining the members in said position including a substantially U shaped spring member mounted in said housing member and having upon its free ends latches engaging corresponding shoulders on one of the other nesting members, and

lugs formed on said spring member and projecting through the corresponding sides of the housing member, said lugs being adapted to he manually pressed to disengage the latches and release said nesting members.

11. In a bracelet construction, in combination, a housing link, a plurality of sections hingedly connected thereto and adapted to fold into position upon said housing link, a spring in said housing carrying latches thereon, said latches adapted to catch on one of said sections to hold said sections in their folded position, and members operatively related to said spring extending through said housing adapted to release said latches from said catches.

12. In a bracelet construction, in combination, a housing link, a plurality of sections hingedly connected thereto and adapted to fold into position upon said housing link, a spring in said housing carrying latches thereon, said latches adapted to catch on one of said sections to hold said sections in their folded position, and lugs operatively related tion adapted to cooperate With catch devices on another section for retaining said sections in folded position, and spaced members operatively related to said latching devices for simultaneously actuating said latching devices to release said sections from their folded position.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specilication this tenth day of April, 1929. f

OVE L. GAMMELL. ROLAND W. WOODW'ARD. 

